Files, in both paper and electronic form, generated by the Governor’s staff (primarily Kelly Riley, Policy Liaison) relating to the Advisory Commission on the Mississippi State Flag and the Mississippi Coat of Arms. The Commission was established by Executive Order 833 on May 5, 2000, by Governor Musgrove as a result of the Supreme Court decision in case 1994CA0615 which declared that since 1906 Mississippi did not have an official state flag or coat of arms. Its seventeen members, led by former Governor William Winter, were tasked with recommending designs for a state flag and coat of arms to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than May 4, 2001. On December 12, 2000, the Commission advised the legislature to make the 1894 coat of arms the official state coat of arms and to call a referendum for voters to choose between the 1894 flag design and a new design which was created by the Commission. The legislature approved the 1894 design for the state coat of arms on February 7, 2001. On April 17, 2001, 64.39% of those Mississippians who voted favored the 1894 flag design.

      The paper files consist of correspondence, meeting minutes and reports, drafts of the final report, and various notes and memoranda relating to the work of the Commission, as well as the Supreme Court decisions that caused the Commission to be formed and from a lawsuit filed protesting the Commission’s “secrecy” and legality. Also included are letters, petitions, and post cards sent to the Commission by citizens of Mississippi and other states and countries expressing their opinions. Flag designs from individual citizens and various Mississippi schools (which were sought by the Commission) are part of this collection.

      There are also approximately 120 Microsoft Office files, including correspondence, the executive order establishing the Commission, responses to a lawsuit filed against Commission members, a design presentation, and meeting agendas and minutes. These files can be accessed through the series catalog record in the online catalog.

Collection Inventory
Box Content

Box Number

Commission meeting files: 200025885
Correspondence originally addressed to Attorney General: 2000 (May)25887
E-mails, incoming: 200025887
Final Report files: 200025885
Flag designs from individual citizens: 200025886
Flag designs from individual citizens: 2000 (oversized)25889
Flag designs, essays, and poetry from Miss. schools: 200025886
Flag designs, essays, and poetry from Miss. schools: 2000 (oversized)25889
Form letters, incoming: 200025887
Formulaic cards, incoming: 200025887
General files (appointments, lawsuit, correspondence, etc.): 2000-200125885
Letters, incoming: 2000 (Mar-Sep 20)25887
Letters, incoming: 2000 (Sep 21)-2001 (Apr)25888
Petitions received from citizens: 2000-200125885
Post cards and postal cards, incoming: (2000)25888
Press reporting (newspaper clippings and letters to the editor): 2000-200125885
Public meeting files: 200025885